Fluid system and method and parts therefor or the like



1968 w. L. M HALE ETAL 3,369,790

FLUID. SYSTEM AND METHOD AND PARTS THEREFOR OR THE LIKE! Original Filed Oct. 1, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z1 FIGJ 22 F 6 2 INVENTORS Z] WILLIAM L. McHALE I SVEND E. SORENSEN BY M$M THEIRVAVTTQBNEYSM,

1968 w. L. M HALE ET AL 3,369,790

FLUID SYSTEM AND METHOD AND PARTS THEREFOR OR THE LIKE Original Filed Oct. 1, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 157 FIG.3

F GA, INVENTORS WILLIAM L. MCHALE SVEND E. SORENSEN THEIR ATIQRNEYS 20, 1968 w. 1.. M HALE ET AL 3,369,790

FLUID SYSTEM AND METHOD AND PARTS THEREFOR OR THE LIKE Original Filed Oct. 1, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS WILLIAM L. McHALE SVEND E. SORENSEN THEIR ATTOR N EYS Feb. 20, 1968 el- ET AL 3,369,790

FLUID SYSTEM AND METHOD AND PARTS THEREFOR OR THE LIKE Original Filed Oct. 1, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 r 1/; 1% 1/7 22 30 f x 1 INVENTORS WILLIAM L. McHALE SVEND E.SOREN$EN THEIR ATTORNEYS a United States Patent Office Patented Feb. 20, 1968 3,369,790 FLUID SYSTEM AND METHOD AND PARTS THEREFOR OR THE LIKE William L. McHale, Broomall, and Svend E. Sorensen, King of Prussia, Pa., assignors to Robertshaw Controls Company, Richmond, Va., a corporation of Delaware Continuation of application Ser. No. 313,040, Oct. 1, 1963. This application May 19, 1967, Ser. No. 639,916

9 Claims. (Cl. 251-78) ABSTRACT OF TIE DISCLOSURE This disclosure relates to a pneumatic valving means wherein a pilot valve means is moved between operating positions thereof upon the actuation of a solenoid coil, the pilot valve means directing fluid flow to a main valve member to shift the main valve member between its operating position so that the main valve member can control a main fluid flow for a refrigeration system or the like, the pilot valve means having lost motion means not only between a member and an armature that is moved by the coil to first take up the st motion between the armature and the member before moving the member, but also having lost motion means between the member and a plunger means that directs the fluid flow to the main valve member.

This application is a continuation of my copending application Serial No. 313,040, filed October 1, 1963, now abandoned.

This invention relates to an improved fluid system and to an improved method for controlling such a fluid system or the like.

In addition, this invention relates to improved valve means for such a fluid system or the like.

It is well known that a fluid system can be provided wherein a single compressor is adapted to selectively have its discharge side interconnected to one heat exchanger while the suction side thereof is interconnected to another heat exchanger whereby the first heat exchanger will provide a heating apparatus and the other heat exchanger will provide a cooling apparatus. By providing a proper valve means between the refrigerant compressor and the heat exchangers, the valve means can be utilized to reverse the arrangement by interconnecting the suction side of the compressor to the first heat exchanger and the discharge side of the compressor to the other heat exchanger whereby the first heat exchanger will now act as a cooling means and the second heat exchanger will now act as a heating means.

Such a fluid system is particularly adaptable for providing a cooling means for a home or the like during the summer and a heating means for the same during the winter.

In the past, such a valve means for the above-described fluid system has comprised a main four-way valve means having a movable member.

It has been found that if the valve member of the main four-way valve means is directly actuated by an actuating means, such as a solenoid coil or the like, the force required to move such a valve member is substantially great whereby the overall cost of providing a suitable solenoid coil renders the system relatively expensive.

Therefore, in the past, various system manufacturers have utilized a three-way pilot valve means to control the operation of the main valve means, the movable valve member of the pilot valve means being actuated by a relatively small solenoid coil whereby the solenoid coil was relatively inexpensive when compared to the cost of the larger coil required to directly actuate the main valve means.

However, it has been found that when a threeeway pilot valve means is utilized with a four-way main valve means in the above manner, the main valve means must be so constructed and arrange-d that the same has rather complicated structure to control the leakage past the piston members thereof and requires separate valve means in the piston portions thereof in order to have the main valve means function properly in combination with the aforementioned three-way pilot valve means.

However, according to the teachings of this invention, it has been found that when a four-way pilot valve means is utilized in a manner hereinafter set forth, the main valve means can be substantially inexpensively formed as the same does not require the complicated and expensive structure of the prior art main valve means normally utilized with the three-way pilot valve means.

Therefore, it can be seen that the system and method of this invention is relatively inexpensive when compared with prior known systems and methods because of the unique arrangement of the parts of this invention.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved fluid system having one or more of the novel features set forth above or hereinafter shown or described.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved method for operating such a fluid system or the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved valve means for such a fluid system or the like.

Other objects, uses and advantages of this invention are apparent from a reading of this description which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view illustrating one embodiment of the fluid system and method of this invention, the valve means thereof being shown in exaggerated large scale relative to the remaining structure in order to facilitate a disclosure of the same.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates the fluid system in another operating position thereof.

FIGURE 3 is a View similar to FIGURE 1 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 and illustrates the fluid system in another operating position thereof.

FIGURE 5 is an axial cross-sectional view of the improved main valve means of this invention.

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the piston portion of the valve means illustrated in FIGURE 5 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 7 is a view similar to FIGURE 5 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention.

FIGURE 8 is an axial cross-sectional view of the improved pilot valve means of this invention.

FIGURE 9 is a bottom view of the valve means illustrated in FIGURE 8. 7

FIGURE 10 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 1010 of FIGURE 8.

FIGURE 11 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 11-11 of FIGURE 8 with background structure removed.

FIGURE 12 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 8 and illustrates another embodiment of this invention.

While the various features of this invention are hereinafter described and illustrated as being particularly adaptable for a refrigerant fluid system or the like, it is to be understood that the various features of this invention can be utilized singly or in any combination thereof to provide means for other types of fluid systems or the like.

Therefore, this invention is not to be limited to only the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, because the drawings are merely utilized to illustrate one of the Wide variety of uses of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURES l and 2, an improved fluid system of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 20 and comprises means for selectively causing a first heat exchanger means 21 to act as a heating means in FIGURE 1 while a second heat exchanger means 22 acts as a cooling means, the system 20 being reversible in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2 to cause the first heat exchanger means 21 to act as a cooling means and the second heat exchanger means 22 to act as a heating means.

For example, the heat exchanger means 21 can be located inside a building or the like while the heat exchanger means 22 is located outside the same. In this manner, during the summer, the system can be disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 wherein the heat exchanger means 21 will provide a cooling means for the cooling cycle while the heat of the system is dissipated outside the building by the heat exchanger means 22.

However, during the winter, the system 20 can be disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 wherein the heat exchanger means 21 dissipates the heat of the system inside the building for the heating cycle thereof while the heat exchanger 22 acts as a cooling means outside the building and, therefore, does not affect the heating cycle.

Therefore, it can be seen that the system 20 of this invention is particularly adaptable for providing heating or cooling means for the building or the like by merely reversing the cycle of operation thereof in a manner later to be described.

The particular details of the system 20 will now be described.

As illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, a refrigerant compressor 23 is provided and has a discharge side 24 and a suction side 25.

The discharge side 24 of the refrigerant compressor 23 is adapted to be selectively interconnected to one of the heat exchangers 21 and 22 while the suction side 25 is simultaneously interconnected to the other heat exchanger 21 or 22 by means of a main four-way valve means 26 of this invention.

In particular, the valve means 26 comprises a-housing 27 having a movable valve member 28 disposed in a chamber 29 of the housing, the movable valve member 28 being interconnected to a pair of opposed piston portions 30 and 31 respectively cooperating with the housing 27 to define three compartments 32, 33 and 34 in the chamber 29 with the slide member 28 being disposed in the compartment 33.

The housing 27 has four ports 35, 36, 37 and 38 provided therein and respectively leading to the compartment 33 thereof.

The port 35 of the valve means 26 is interconnected to the discharge side 24 of the compressor 23 by a conduit means 39. The port 37 of the valve means 26 is interconnected to the suction side 25 of the compressor 23 by a conduit means 40. The remaining ports 36 and 38 are respectively interconnected to the heat exchangers 21 and 22 by conduit means 41 and 42.

Therefore, when the valve member 28 of the valve means 26 is disposed in the position illustrated in FIG- URE 1, the compressed refrigerant from the discharge side 24 of the compressor 23 is adapted to flow through the port 35 of the valve means 26 to the port 36 and, thus, to the heat exchanger 21 to cause the same to act as a condenser and provide a heating means, the return from the heat exchanger 21 passing through a restrictor means 43 to the heat exchanger 22 to cause the heat exchanger 22 to act as an evaporator whereby the heat exchanger 22 acts as a cooling means.

The return of fluid from the evaporator 22 passes through the conduit means 42 to the port 38 of the valve means 26 and through the valve member 28 to the port 37 leading back to the suction side 25 of the compressor 23 by the conduit 40.

When the valve member 28 is shifted to the left in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 2, the discharge side 24 of the compressor 23 is now interconnected to the port 38 leading to the heat exchanger 22 whereby the heat exchanger 22 acts as a condenser for the refrigerant and, thus, forms a heating means. The compressed fluid from the heat exchanger 22 is then directed through the restrictor 43 to the heat exchanger 21 whereby the heat exchanger 21 acts as an evaporator and thereby cools the building or the like, the return from the evaporator 22 passing through the ports 36 and 37 back to the suction side 25 of the compressor 23.

As previously set forth, when the valve member 28 of the valve means 26 is shifted between the positions illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 by a solenoid coil directly interconnected to the valve member 28, it has been found that the solenoid coil must be so large that the cost of the same makes the system substantially impractical.

However, according to the teachings of this invention, a four-way pilot valve means 44 is provided to selectively shift the valve member 28 of the main valve means 26 between the positions illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 by utilizing the suction and discharge pressures of the compressor 23 for the motive power to shift the valve mem ber 28.

As previously set forth, prior known fluid systems of the above described types have utilized three-way pilot valve means to shift the main valve member whereby the main four-way valve means of the prior known systems comprise rather complicated and expensive structures rather than the simple and inexpensive structure provided by this invention.

Therefore, by utilizing the four-way pilot valve means 44 of this invention in a manner hereinafter described, it has been found that the main valve means 26 can be a relatively simple structure as will be apparent hereinafter.

The pilot valve means 44 comprises a housing 45 having a chamber 46 defined therein. Four ports 47, 48, 49 and 50 are formed in the closing 45 and lead to the chamber 46 thereof for a purpose hereinafter described.

A movable valve member 51 is disposed in the chamber 46 and is adapted to selectively interconnect the ports 48 and 49 together while permitting the ports 47 and 50 to be interconnected together when the valve member 51 is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 1.

However, when the valve member 51 is shifted to the left to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2, the valve member 51 interconnects together the ports 49 and 50 while permitting the ports 47 and 48 to be interconnected together for a purpose now to be described. I

As illustrated in FIGURES l and 2, the port 47 of the pilot valve means 44 is interconnected to the discharge side 24 of the compressor 23 by a conduit means 52.

The port 49 of the pilot valve means 44 is interconnected to the suction side 25 of the compressor 23 by a conduit means 53.

The ports 48 and 50 of the pilot valve means 44 are respectively interconnected to the compartments 34 and 32 of the main valve means 26 by conduit means 54 and 55 for a purpose now to be described.

When the valve member 51 of the pilot valve means 44 is moved to the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 by a relatively small solenoid coil 56 in a manner hereinafter set forth, the valve member 51 permits the port 47 thereof to be interconnected to the port 50 thereof whereby the discharge side 24 of the compressor 23 is interconnected to the compartment 32 of the main valve means 26. Simultaneously, the compartment 34 of the main valve means 26 is interconnected to the suction side 25 of the compressor 23 by the interconnected ports 48 and 49 of the pilot valve means 44 whereby the pressure differential between the compartments 32 and 34 of the main valve means 26 causes the valve member 28 to shift to the position illustrated in FIGURE 1 whereby the heat exchanger means 21 acts as a condenser and the heat exchanger means 22 acts as an evaporator.

When the valve member 51 of the pilot valve means 44 is shifted to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 by the solenoid coil 56 in a manner hereinafter described, the port 47 of the pilot valve means 44 is interconnected to the port 48 thereof whereby the suction side 24 of the compressor 23 is interconnected to the compartment 34 while simultaneously the compartment 32 of the main valve means 26 is interconnected to the suction side 25 of the compressor 23 by the interconnected ports 49 and 50 of the pilot valve means 44.

In this manner, the pressure differential between the compartments 34 and 32 of the main valve means 26 causes the main valve member 28 thereof to shift to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 to cause the heat exchanger means 22 to act as a condenser and the heat exchanger means 21 to act as an evaporator.

Therefore, it can be seen that the fluid system 20 of this invention can selectively provide a heating cycle for a building as illustrated in FIGURE 1 or a cooling cycle for the building as illustrated in FIGURE 2 simply upon the shifting of the valve member 51 of the pilot valve means 44 in a manner hereinafter described whereby the main valve means 26 of this invention can be a relatively inexpensive and uncomplicated valve means over prior art structure so that the overall system 20 of this invention can be relatively inexpensive while still performing desired functions in a desired manner.

While the main valve means 26 and pilot valve means 44 of this invention have been previously described as being particularly adaptable for changing a cooling cycle of a building or the like to a heating cycle upon the shifting of the valve members thereof, it is to be understood that the pilot valve means 44 of this invention could be utilized to shift the valve member of a three-way valve means rather than the four-way valve means illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2.

For example, another fluid system of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 57 in FIG- URES 3 and 4 wherein like parts between the systems 20 and 57 are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter A.

As illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, the main valve member 26A and pilot valve member 44A are substantially identical to the valve means 26 and 44 of FIGURES 1 and 2 and are interconnected together in a like manner. However, the port 38A of the main valve means 26A is closed by a suitable plug 150 whereby it can be seen that the main valve means 26A now comprises a threeway valve means rather than a four-way valve means as provided by the valve means 26 previously described.

The inlet port 35A of the main valve means 26A is interconnected to a source 151 of high pressure fluid by a conduit means 152, whereby the high pressure fluid from the source 151 is adapted to be connected to the chamber 46A of the pilot valve means 44A by the conduit 52A in the manner previously described.

The outlet port 37A of the main valve means 26A is interconnected to a source 153 of low pressure fluid by a conduit means 154. The other port 36A of the main valve means 26A is interconnected to a chamber 155 of a piston and cylinder arrangement 156 by a conduit means 157.

The piston and cylinder arrangement 156 comprises a cylinder 158 having a piston 159 disposed therein and dividing the same into two chambers 155 and 160, the piston 159 being interconnected to a suitable piston rod 6 161 projecting through the chamber of the cylinder 158 and out of the end thereof.

A compression spring 162 is disposed in the chamber 160 and has one end 163 bearing against the piston 159 and the other end 164 bearing against an end wall 165 of the cylinder defining means 158 whereby the compression spring 162 continuously tends to urge the piston to the position illustrated in FIGURE 4.

When it is desired to move the piston 159 of the piston and cylinder arrangement 156 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 to the position illustrated in FIG- URE 3 to actuate a suitable device or the like, the valve member 51A of the pilot valve means 44A is moved to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 to interconnect the source of high pressure fluid 151 to the chamber 32A of the main valve means 26A and thereby cause the valve member 28A of the main valve means 26A to move to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 whereby the source 151 of high pressure fluid is interconnected to the port 36A thereof and can be directed by the conduit 157 to the chamber 155 of the piston and cylinder arrangement 156. With the source 151 of high pressure fluid now being connected to the chamber 155 of the piston and cylinder arrangement 156, it can be seen that the same forces the piston 159 toward the end wall 165 thereof in opposition to the force of the compression spring 162 to move the piston rod 161 upwardly in FIGURE 3 for any suitable purpose.

As long as the source 151 of high pressure fluid is interconnected by the main valve means 26A to the chamber 155 of the piston and cylinder arrangement 156, the piston 159 thereof is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 3.

However, when it is desired to return the piston 159 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 4, the valve member 51A of the pilot valve means 44A is shifted to the left to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 to interconnect the source 151 of high pressure fluid to the chamber 34A of the main valve means 26A and cause movement of the valve member 28A from the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 4. With the valve member 28A now disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 4, the valve member 28A bridges the ports 36A and 37A thereof so that the fluid pressure in the chamber 155 of the piston and cylinder arrangement 156 will be vented to the low pressure source 153 while the high pressure source 151 is disconnected from the chamber 155 of the piston and cylinder arrangement 156.

Thus, the force of the compression spring 162 of the piston and cylinder arrangement 156 is adapted to move the .piston 159 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 3 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 as the pressure fluid in the chamber 155 is being vented by the main valve means 26A to the source 153 of low pressure fluid.

Therefore, it can be seen that by selectively moving the valve member 51A of the pilot valve means 44A between the positions illustrated in FIGURES 3 and 4, the piston 159 of the piston and cylinder arrangement 156 can be moved upwardly or downwardly for any desired purpose.

Accordingly, it can be seen that the four-way pilot valve means 44 or 44A of this invention can be selectively utilized with a four-way main valve means 26 or with a three-way main valve means 26A to accomplish a desired operation of a fluid system or the like, the pilot valve means 44 and 44A being adapted to use the pressure differential between a low pressure source and a high pressure source to move the valve member 28 or 28A of the main valve means 26 or 26A without requiring the main valve means 26 or 26A to have complicated valves and leakage control means in the manner provided by prior known fluid systems.

The particular details of the main four-way valve means 26 will now be described and reference is made to FIGURE 5.

As illustrated in FIGURE 5, the main four-way valve means 26 has the housing 27 thereof formed in substantially cylindrical fashion with the opposed open ends 62 and 63 thereof respectively sealed closed by cup-shaped retainers 64.

The main valve member 28 that is disposed in the compartment 33 of the housing 27 comprises a D-shaped slide member having a flat surface 65 interrupted by a recess 66 adapted to selectively bridge the ports 36 and 37 or the ports 37 and 38 formed in a flat valve surface 67 of a valve head 68 disposed in the housing 27.

The opposed piston portions 30 and 31 of the valve means 26 are respectively interconnected together by a rigid member 69 respectively secured to the piston portions 30 and 31 by fastening member 70. The rigid member 69 has an opening 71 provided therein and telescopically receiving the D-shaped slide member 28 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5.

In order to maintain the surface 65 of the slide member 28 into sealing contact with the surface 67 of the valve block 68, a leaf type spring 72 is disposed between the rigid member 69 and an annular shoulder 73 of the valve member 28 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 5.

Because the value means 26 is only shifted between its operating positions, in the manner previously described, a relatively few times a year whereby the value member 28 will normally be disposed in one operating position thereof for several months, it is desirous that the sealing means sealing the piston portions 30 and 31 to the internal peripheral surface of the housing 27 not stick to the housing 28 while still providing a sealing relationship therewith.

Accordingly, each piston portion 30 and 31 of the valve means 26 is provided with an annular recess 74 receiving a conventional rubber O-ring 75 or the like. However, a boot or annular band 76 of polytetrafluoroethylene normally sold under the trademark Teflon or polytrifluorochloroethylene normally sold under the trademark Kel-F is disposed around the O-ring 75 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE to provide the engaging surface of the piston portion or 31 against the internal peripheral surface of the housing 27, the boot 76 not only providing a good sealing relation with the internal peripheral surface of the housing 27 but also reducing the friction between the piston portion 30 or 31 in the housing 27 to readily permit the valve member 28 to be shifted between its operating position in the manner previously described without sticking thereto.

While the embodiment of the valve means 26 ill-ustrated in FIGURE 1 has a boot 76 separate from the O- ring 75, it is to be understood that the same could be made together, if desired.

For example, reference is made to FIGURE 6 wherein another embodiment of the valve means 26 is illustrated and the O-ring 75B disposed in the recess 74B of either piston portion 30B or 31B is completely coated with a coating 77 of polytetrafluoroethylene or polytrifluorochloroethylene to provide the aforementioned functions of the sealing means of the piston means 30B and 313.

Therefore, it can be seen that the valve means 26 of this invention can be readily simply formed from uncomplicated parts because the same does not require complicated valve structures in the piston portions 30 and 31 thereof as required by other four-way valve means utilized in combination with three-way pilot valve means in the manner previously described.

While one type of four-way valve means 26 has been previously described as being particularly adaptable to be utilized in the systems 20 and 5 7 of this invention, it is to be understood that other types of fourand three-way valve means can be utilized therewith.

For example, another valve means of this invention is generally indicated by the reference numeral 78 in FIG- URE 7 and will now be described.

As illustrated in FIGURE 7, the valve means 78 of this invention comprises a housing 79 having a pair of opposed ends 80 and 81 respectively interconnected to a pair of collars 82 for a purpose now to be described.

A pair of substantially cup-shaped flexible diaphragms 83 respectively have the outer peripheries 84 thereof sandwiched between the collars 82 and the ends 80 and 81 of the housing 79 in the manner illustrated in FIG- URE 7 whereby the cup-shaped diaphragms 83 are secured to the valve means 78 and respectively cooperate with cup-shaped retainers 85 to define compartments 86 and 87 in the opposed ends of the valve means 78 and separate from a middle compartment 88 thereof.

A slide valve member 89 is disposed in the compartment 88 and has a flat end surface 98 interrupted by a recess 91, the flat surface 90 of the slide member 89 engaging a flat surface 92 of a valve block 93 disposed in the housing 79.

The valve member 89 is so constructed and arranged that the same is adapted to selectively bridge the bridge ports 94 and 95 in the valve block 93 when the valve member 89 is disposed in the position illustrated in FIG- URE 7. However, when the valve member 89 is shifted to the right-hand diaphragm 83 folds upon itself in the manber 89 is adapted to bridge the port 95 and another port 96 in the manner previously described.

A pair of piston portions 97 and 98 are respectively interconnected to the slide member 89 by rigid members 99 and 108 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 7, whereby the piston portions 97 and 98 respectively cooperate with the flexible diaphragms 83.

The flexible diaphragms 83 are so constructed and arranged that the same are adapted to fold or unfold without stretching thereof depending upon the position of the valve member 89.

In particular, when a relatively high pressure fluid is supplied to the compartment 86 and a relatively low pressure fluid is supplied to the compartment 87, the valve member 89 is shifted to the position illustrated in FIG- URE 7 whereby the left-hand diaphragm 83 unfolds while the righ-hand diaphragm 83 folds upon itself in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 7.

Conversely, when a relatively high pressure fluid is supplied to the compartment 87 and a relatively low pressure fluid is supplied to the compartment 86, the pressure differential between the compartments 86 and 87 shifts the valve member 89 to the right whereby the lefthand diaphragm 83 folds upon itself and the right-hand diaphragm 83 unfolds. Thus, it can be seen that each diaphragm 83 of this invention either rolls upon itself or unrolls to permit shifting of the valve member 89 whereby seals and frictional engagement between the piston portions 97 and 98 and the housing means 79 and 82 are eliminated.

While return springs 101 are respectively disposed in the compartments 86 and 87, it is to be understood that such return springs 101 could be eliminated if the valve means 78 of this invention is utilized in combination with the pilot valve means 44 of this invention in the manner previously described.

However, if only one rolling diaphragm 83 is utilized with the valve member 89 of this invention, it can be seen that a return spring 101 would be necessary to return the valve member 89 to one selected position thereof after a reduced pressure has been provided in the respective compartment 86 or 87 to draw the valve member 89 from the position it normally has been moved to by the spring 101.

In order to maintain the surface 70 of the valve member 89 in sealing contact with the surface 92 of the valve block 93, a leaf spring 102 is disposed between the housing 78 and the upper surface 103 of the valve member 89, the valve member 89 being adapted to be axially moved relative to the spring 102 while the spring 102 urges the 9 same into sealing contact with the surface 92 of the valve block 93.

Therefore, it can be seen that another valve means is provided in FIGURE 7 which is adapted to be utilized with the systems 20 and 57 previously described.

The pilot valve means 44 will now be described and reference is made to FIGURES 8-11.

As illustrated in FIGURES 8-11, the housing 45 is interconnected in any suitable manner to a cylindrical housing 104 disposed at right angles relative thereto, the housing 104 carrying the solenoid coil 56 on the outer right hand thereof for a purpose hereinafter described.

A movable armature 105 is disposed in the housing 104 and is normally urged to its left-hand position. by a compression spring 106 disposed between the armature 105 and a plug means 107 in the right hand of the housing 104.

A plunger 108 is also disposed in the housing 104 and is disposed in the left-hand end thereof in coaxial relationship with the armature 105.

The plunger 108 is operatively interconnected to the armature 105 by a st motion means provided by a shaftlike member 109 respectively passing through aligned bores 110 and 111 respectively formed in the armature 105 and the plunger 108.

The shaft-like member 109 has enlarged ends 112 and 113 respectively received in recesses 114 and 115 provided in the outer ends of the armature 105 and the plunger 108 and are normally spaced from the end surfaces 116 and 117 of the armature 105 and plunger 108 for a purpose hereinafter described.

A compression spring 118 is disposed in a recess 119 formed in the end 120 of the armature 105 and has one end 121 bearing against the armature 105 and the other end 122 thereof bearing against the end 123 of the plunger 108.

In this manner, when the solenoid coil 56 is deenergized, the compression spring 106 forces the armature 105 and plunger 108 against the left-hand end of the housing 104 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 8 to cause the valve member 51 to be disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURE 8, the compression force of the spring 106 being greater than the force of the spring 118.

However, when the solenoid coil 56 is energized, the same draws the armature 105 to the right in opposition to the force of the compression spring 106.

Because of the lost motion between the armature 105 and the plunger 108 provided by the shaft-like member 109, the armature 105 initially moves to the right while the spring 118 holds the plunger 108 in the position illustrated in FIGURE 8 until the enlarged heads 112 and 113 of the shaft-like member 109 are respectively engaging the surfaces 116 and 117 .of the armatures 105 and 108 whereby the plunger 108 is then also moved to the right by further movement of the armature 105 to cause the valve member 51 to move from the position illustrated in FIGURE 8 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 in a manner hereinafter described.

Therefore, it can be seen that a break-away force is provided by the armature 105 initially moving to the right before the plunger 108 is moved to the right so that the plunger 108 will have a relatively large force applied thereto to move the valve member 51 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 8 to the position illustrated in FIG- URE 2 whereby the coil 56 of this invention can be relatively small and still produce the required movement of the valve member 51.

Because the solenoid coil 56 of the pilot valve means 44 of this invention is relatively small, means are provided for amplifying the force of movement .of the plunger 108 to the valve member 51 to permit the valve member 51 to shift between the positions thereof.

In particular, it can be seen in FIGURE 8 that a substantially cylindrical positioner or retainer 124 is disposed in the chamber 46 of the housing 45 and has a slot means 125 passing therethrough.

A 1ever'126 is disposed in the slot means of the retainer 124 and is pivotally interconnected thereto by a pivot pin 127 disposed intermediate the ends 128 and 129 of the lever 126.

The retainer 124 has a pair of legs 130 extending down wardly from the same and respectively are disposed on opposite sides of the D-shaped slide valve member 51 to guide the movement of the valve member 51 between the operating positions thereof in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 11.

Further, the legs 130 of the retainer 124 facilitate as sembly of the lever 126 relative to the valve member 51 by guiding the end 129 of the lever 126 into a recess 131 of the valve member 51 when the retainer 124 and valve member 51 are being assembled together.

The other end 128 of the lever 126 is received in an annular cavity 132 formed in the plunger 108 whereby movemeent of the plunger 108 causes the lever 126 to pivot and move the valve member 51 in the manner previously described.

A compression spring 133 is disposed between the retainer 124 and the valve member 51 to tend to urge the surface 134 of the valve member 51 into sealing engagement with the valve surface 135 of the housing 45, the valve surface 135 having the ports 48, 49 and 50 formed therein in aligned relation while the port 47 previously described is formed in the valve surface 135 out of alignment with the ports 4850 and valve member 51 in the manner illustrated in FIGURE 9.

Thus, it can 'be seen that the lever 126 amplifies the force of movement of the plunger 108 to the valve member 51 to cause the valve member 51 to move relative to the valve surface 135 when very little force is being utilized to move the plunger 108 whereby the solenoid coil 56 can be relatively small.

Further, because of the lost motion provided by the means 109 previously described, the break-away force required to move the valve member 51 from the position illustrated in FIGURE 2 can be relatively small as the armature 105 builds up momentum before the same moves the plunger 108.

Therefore, it can be seen that the valve means 44 of this invention is relatively simple to manufacture while still providing the desired valve movement to control the main valve means 26 and 26A in the manner previously described.

While the lost motion spring means 118 has been previously described and illustrated as being disposed between the armature 105 and the plunger 108, it is to be understood that similar spring means can be utilized on the lever means 106 to provide the same function.

For example, reference is made to FIGURE 12 wherein another embodiment of the valve means 44 is generally indicated by the reference numeral 440 and parts thereof similar to the valve means 44 are indicated by like reference numerals followed by the reference letter C.

As illustrated in FIGURE 9, the spring 118 has been eliminated from the recess 119C of the armature 105C and a compression spring 136 has been disposed between the lever 126C and the retainer 124C in the slot means 125C thereof, the lever 126C having a locating projection 137 for the end 138 of the spring 136 while the retainer 124 has a locating projection 139 for the other end 140 of the spring 136.

Therefore, it can be seen that the compression spring 136 tends to hold the plunger 108C in its extreme lefthand position when the armature 105C is initially moved to the right until the lost motion means 109C causes the plunger 108C to move to the right to cause the valve member to be moved by the pivoting movement of the lever 126C in the manner previously described.

Accordingly, it can be seen that various modifications can be made in the valve means of this invention while the resulting structure still falls within the scope of the appended claims.

Thus, it can be seen that not only does this invention provide improved fluid systems or the like, but also this invention provides improved methods of operating such fluid systems or the like.

In addition, this invention provides improved valve means for such a fluid system or the like.

However, it is to be understood that the various Valve means of this invention can be utilized with other systems or for other purposes as desired.

While the form of the invention now preferred has been disclosed as required by the statutes, other forms may be used, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

1. A valve means comprising a housing having a chamber therein, a movable valve member disposed in said chamber, a movable armature carried by said housing, a solenoid coil carried by said housing and being adapted to move said armature to one position thereof, spring means carried by said housing and tending to maintain said armature in another position thereof, a movable plunger carried by said housing and interconnected to said armature by a lost motion member that provides a lost motion respectively with said armature and said plunger, said lost motion member and plunger and armature being so constructed and arranged that the lost motion between said lost motion member and said armature is taken up before the lost motion between said lost motion member and said plunger is taken up to cause movement of said plunger, and means interconnecting said plunger to said valve member to cause movement thereof upon movement of said plunger.

2, A valve means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plunger and said armature are coaxially aligned.

3. A valve means as set forth in claim 1 wherein said last-named means comprises a pivotally mounted lever.

4. A valve means comprising a housing having a chamber therein, a movable valve member disposed in said chamber, a movable armature carried by said housing, a solenoid coil carried by said housing and being adapted to move said armature to one position thereof, a first spring means carried by said housing and tending to maintain said armature in another position thereof, a movable plunger carried by said housing and interconnected to said armature by a lost motion member that provides a lost motion respectively with said armature and said plunger, said lost motion member and plunger and armature being so constructed and arranged that the lost motion between said lost motion member and said armature is taken up before the lost motion between said lost motion member and said plunger is taken up to cause movement of said plunger, a second spring means carried by said housing and tending to hold said plunger from movement when said armature is first moved toward said one position thereof, and means interconnecting said plunger to said valve member to cause movement thereof upon movement of said plunger.

5. A valve means as set forth in claim 4 wherein said second spring is disposed between said armature and said plunger.

6. A valve means comprising a housing having a chamber therein, a movable valve member disposed in said chamber, a retainer disposed in said chamber and having a slot means passing therethrough, a lever disposed in said slots means and being pivotally interconnected to said retainer intermediate the ends of said lever, one end of said lever being operatively interconnected to said valve member, a movable armature carried by said housing, a solenoid coil carried by said housing and being adapted to move said armature to one position thereof, first spring means carried by said housing and tending to maintain said armature in another position thereof, a movable plunger carried by said housing and interconnected to said armature by a lost motion member that provides a lost motion respectively with said armature and said plunger, said lost motion member and plunger and armature being so constructed and arranged that the lost motion between said lost motion member and said armature is taken up before the lost motion between said lost motion member and said plunger is taken up to cause movement of said plunger, and second spring means carried by said housing and tending to hold said plunger from movement when said armature is first moved toward said one position thereof, said plunger being operatively interconnected to the other end of said lever.

7. A valve means comprising a housing having a chamber therein, a movable valve member disposed in said chamber, a movable armature carried by said housing, a solenoid coil carried by said housing and being adapted to move said armature to one position thereof, spring means carried by said housing and tending to maintain said armature in another position thereof, a movable plunger carried by said housing and interconnected to said armature by lost motion means, and means interconnecting said plunger to said valve member to cause movement thereof upon movement of said plunger, said lost motion means comprising a shaftlike member passing respectively through said armature and said plunger and having enber therein, a movable valve member disposed in said plunger.

3. A valve means comprising a housing having a chamber therein, a movable valve member disposed in said chamber, a movable armature carried by said housing, a solenoid coil carried by said housing and being adapted to move said armature to one position thereof, a first spring means carried by said housing and tending to maintain said armature in another position thereof, a movable plunger carried by said housing and interconnected to said armature by lost motion means, a second spring means carried by said housing and tending to hold said plunger from movement when said armature is first moved toward said one position thereof, and means interconnecting said plunger to said valve member to cause movement thereof upon movement of said plunger, said second spring means being disposed between said housing and said means interconnecting said plunger to said valve member.

9. A valve means comprising a housing having a chamber therein, a movable valve member disposed in said chamber, a retainer disposed in said chamber and having a slot means passing therethrough, a lever disposed in said slot means and being pivotally mounted to said retainer at a point intermediate the ends of said lever, one end of said lever being operatively interconnected to said valve member to move said valve member upon pivotal movement of said lever, means operatively interconnected to the other end of said lever to cause pivotal movement of said lever, and spring means disposed between said retainer and said valve member to urge said valve member into sealing engagement with said housing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,528,898 11/1950 Mcilvaine 251138 X 2,609,989 9/1952 Burklin 25177 X 3,143,131 8/1964 Spencer 251138 X 3,211,417 10/1965 Ray 25177 X M. CARY NELSON, Primary Examiner.

R. C. MILLER, Assistant Examiner. 

